Contents [hide]

Smythe History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Smythe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

The ancestry of the name Smythe can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is a name for a metalworker (the blacksmith). It is derived from the Old English word smid, probably derived form "smitan," which meant "to strike with a hammer." As metal worker was such a common and important profession in Medieval times, this name and its cognates are extremely widespread throughout the British Isles and Europe. However, there is some debate as to why the occupation of blacksmith would lead to such a populous surname. One might expect that Farmer, also an occupational name, but with far more people involved in the profession in the Middle Ages, would today be a much more populous surname than Smith. It is probably a futile exercise to try to establish a single source for this amazing, monumentally prolific surname.

Early Origins of the Smythe family

The surname Smythe was first found in Durham, in present day Northumbria (North-Eastern England) where an Olde English version of the name is cited in circa 975, almost 100 years before the Normans would invade this part of England.

Some of the family moved to Mount Thoydon in Essex. "The church [of Mount Thoydon] is a handsome edifice, containing many fine monuments to the family of Smyth, among which is one to Sir Thomas Smyth, chancellor of the garter, and principal secretary of state, in the reigns of Edward VI. and Elizabeth." 1

"Wootton Hall [in Wooton-Wawen, Warwickshire] was early the seat of the Smythe family, of whom was Lord Carrington, who, at the battle of Edge-Hill, bravely redeemed the royal standard, as is recorded on his monument in Christ-Church, Oxford. Over the front entrance of the Hall are the arms, finely executed in relief, of Lord Carrington. " 1

"The extensive manor of Mitchell-Morton, which stretches into the parishes of Kilkhampton, Moorwinstow, and Jacobstow, in Cornwall, and Week St. Pancras in Devonshire, is generally denominated from this parish. This large manor belonged, about the year 1660, to the family of Smith." 2

Early History of the Smythe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Smythe research. Another 94 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1100, 1279, 1559, 1568, 1608, 1611, 1616, 1617, 1621, 1631, 1640, 1644, 1649, 1650, 1652, 1653, 1655, 1657, 1658, 1661, 1662, 1663, 1665, 1675, 1679, 1681, 1691, 1696, 1699, 1701, 1717, 1720 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Smythe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Smythe Spelling Variations

Smythe has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Smythe have been found, including Smith, Smyth, Smythe and others.

Early Notables of the Smythe family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Richard Smith (1568-1655), officially the Bishop of Chalcedon, the second Catholic bishop for England, Wales and Scotland after Catholicism was banned in England in 1559; John Smith (c. 1608-1657), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 to 1644, supported the Royalist cause in the English Civil War; John Smith (died 1663) English-born immigrant to the Massachusetts Bay Colony c. 1631, 3rd President of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (1649-1650), 6th President of Providence and Warwick (1652-1653); William Smyth (died 1658), Doctor of Divinity (DD), an...
Another 110 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Smythe Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Smythe Ranking

In the United States, the name Smythe is the 7,719^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 3

Migration of the Smythe family to Ireland

Some of the Smythe family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 88 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Smythe migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Smythes to arrive on North American shores:

Smythe Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

George Smythe, who landed in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "James" 4

Smythe Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Richard Smythe, who arrived in Virginia in 1789 4

Smythe Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Edward Smythe, aged 25, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1825 4
William Smythe, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1826 4
Thomas J Smythe, who landed in Mississippi in 1833 4
John Smythe, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1834 4
Samuel Smythe, who landed in America in 1848 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Smythe Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Walter E Smythe, who arrived in Mississippi in 1905 4

Smythe migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Smythe Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. John Smythe U.E. who settled in St. Andrews, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 5

Smythe migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Smythe Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Robert Smythe, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "John Woodall" in 1849 6

Smythe migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Smythe Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Dr. Smythe, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Jane and Catherine" arriving in New Zealand on 28th June 1849 7
Miss Smythe, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Jane and Catherine" arriving in New Zealand on 28th June 1849 7
Mrs. Sarah Smythe, (b. 1824), aged 35, British teacher travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Regina" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 4th December 1859 8
Miss Sarah Ann Elizabeth Smythe, (b. 1845), aged 14, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Regina" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 4th December 1859 8
Mr. Archibald George Smythe, (b. 1849), aged 10, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Regina" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 4th December 1859 8

Contemporary Notables of the name Smythe (post 1700) +

Danny Smythe (1949-2016), American drummer, member of The Box Tops, an American rock band known for their hits "The Letter", "Cry Like a Baby", and "Soul Deep"
William P. Smythe, American politician, U.S. Consul in Hull, 1897 9
William Smythe, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Iowa, 1904 9
Wilhelm N. Smythe, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Ohio, 1972 9
Mabel Murphy Smythe (b. 1918), American politician, U.S. Ambassador to Cameroon, 1977; Equatorial Guinea, 1979 9
John T. Smythe, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1964 9
James M. Smythe, American Democratic Party politician, Postmaster at Augusta, Georgia, 1853-61 9
Hugh Heyne Smythe (b. 1913), American politician, U.S. Ambassador to Syria, 1965-67; Malta, 1967 9
Henry Maxwell Smythe (1844-1932), American politician, U.S. Minister to Haiti, 1893-97; U.S. Consul General in Port-au-Prince, 1893-97 9
Henry A. Smythe (b. 1819), American Republican politician, U.S. Collector of Customs, 1866-69 9
... (Another 11 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Smythe family +

Air New Zealand Flight 901

Mr. Henry Howard Smythe (1924-1979), New Zealander passenger, from Thames, North Island, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; he died in the crash 10

Empress of Ireland

Mr. James Smythe, British Fireman from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland (1914) and survived the sinking 11

The Smythe Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Benigno Numine
Motto Translation: By Divine Providence.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) JOHN WOODALL 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849JohnWoodall.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 25) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Mount Erebus, Memorial, Roll of Remembrance (Retrieved 2018, February 21st). Retrieved from http://www.erebus.co.nz/memorialandawards/rollofremembrance.aspx
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html